Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, in the absence of a tumor or other diseases affecting the brain or its lining. Diagnosis requires brain scans and lumbar puncture. Characteristic symptoms are headache, transient visual obscurations or transient visual loss in one or both eyes usually lasting...

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scared of surgery

HungryAngryLonelyTired
HungryAngryLonelyTired
Im going to consult for neck surgery and Im scared. My thyroid is troubling me. But most of all it meeting a new doctor with so much power.. Over the past 9 years with my chronic illnesses and putting off knee surgery then I make the date for surgery and something changed in my neck and Im really sick. Eating pain pills and muscle relaxers for breakfast. Golly gee batman!
aimhigh4once
aimhigh4once
I am so sorry you are going through this Hungry. I don't know a lot about thyroid surgery but know that I am praying for you. I pray that your anxiety is relieved and that you heal quickly. Blessings, Aim
Sophiasmom06
Sophiasmom06
Hungry I don't know the details of your situation but my first thought is just do it. make sure you have a good surgeon and get the thyroid out. I had mine removed 12 years ago, and in retrospect I had started developing IIH prior to that, and the thyroidectomy put me into remission. your thyroid might be pressing on your jugular veins causing part of the problem with CSF drainage. I don't know for sure and my docs probably wouldn't confirm my suspicions in myself without venous resistance testing before and after, but I went from feeling like crap (IIH type of stuff) to mowing the lawn on post op day 5. I felt fantastic as soon as the anesthesia wore off. my thyroid was really big and they had to extend the incision at surgery and it was wrapped around stuff in there. if there is some other way to shrink your thyroid without surgery, I guess you could try that first, but I suspect that a big thyroid can be a trigger. I then got sick again later, but not until after I was pregnant a second time and my sleep apnea got worse. then jaw surgery put me into remission this time. so I wouldn't know if it would work in you, but them wanting to take out your thyroid might be a blessing in disguise. do you have hyperthyroidism? there are two others of us here with a history of that. it's been associated with IIH.
HungryAngryLonelyTired
HungryAngryLonelyTired
Oh Im not well. What I meant to say is. Im having a consult wilt a new surgeon for neck fusion and my thyroid is acting up. Plus the PTC doesnt let me finish sentenses. Im in constant pain with this stuff. It not horrible but just enough to take pills and know I cant live this way.
deleted_user
deleted_user
big hugs and much support - you must feel terrible at the moment. can you take someone with you to the appointment? then you can plan out together what you want to say, and have back up if you forget anything or if the words come out wrong? i always write a list to take in with me too.

There is so much going on at the moment, is there anything on the horizon for the PTC? eating pain pills cant be the way forward for ever - but i guess you need to deal with the surgery first?

when i have too much going on I try not to look at the big picture, I just try and look at bite sized chunks that I can deal with one thing at a time. its still rubbish when you feel this bad, but its better then being insurmountable. Big hugs again.